Boston Scientology Volunteer Ministry's Crime Reducing Tools Used In National Night Out

Time: 5-7pm
Date: August 7th
Place: Boston Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministry
            1783 Washington Street (near Massachusetts Ave.), Boston, MA

Contact: Robert Castagna (617) 927-2247 or
                Gerard Renna       (617) 266-3841

This year’s 24th annual National Night Out on August 7th will bring together more than 35 million citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and officials determined to forge safer communities.   The Church of Scientology has been active in this event since nearly its inception. Church crime reducing events will occur nationally.

"The Church set up its Volunteer Ministry a few years back as a free service to help reduce crime and to assist individuals in the community who want help," said Ministry Director Robert Castagna. "On Tuesday we will serve beverages and snacks outside for neighbors while showing them our undercuts to crime which address education, morality and the drug issue."

Any law officer can provide first-hand accounts of the link between drugs and crime, but there are also compelling, if little known, statistics showing the correlation.   Take the rise in crime statistics since drugs were first popularized by music and mass media in the early 60s.  Since then, according to the recent US crime rates, violent crime has escalated by nearly 500%, assaults increased by 559%, rape by 546% and property crimes by more than 300%, but our population increase is only 75%.   The war on drugs may have become a cliché but these statistics alone show we are in the midst of a seriously insidious epidemic that has yet to damp out. 

To address the drug issue during National Night Out, children will get little sheriff's badges while taking the Drug Free Marshal's Pledge ( www.drugfreemarshals.org/thepledg.htm ) to remain free and to help others to be drug free.

While this is going on, the Scientology Volunteer Ministry will also be showing the newly created, "The Way to Happiness" public service announcements that are based upon the 21 precepts humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard's non-religious moral guide -- a tremendous tool that is often used in criminal reform. These public service announcements consist of brief but extremely enlightening skits of precepts ranging from, "Take Care of Yourself," to "Set a Good Example," "Do Not Murder" and "Flourish and Prosper." They can be enjoyed by clicking onto (www.twth.org/video/player.html).

Today, both legal and illicit drugs are so commonplace that the new 2006 Monitoring the Future survey tells us that a full 48% of 12th graders have tried illicit drugs.  Prescription drug sales doubled between 1996 and 2000, and arrests and deaths from prescription drug abuse are more and more in the news.  A special report released in June this year by the Office of National Drug Control Policy shows a direct relationship between teen drug use and violence, finding that “the more drugs a teenager uses, the greater the tendency to engage in violent behavior.” 

Beyond the Drug Free Marshals program to assist children in staying off drugs, the ministry also offers free drug lectures and invites you to find out more about drugs and to say No to Drugs and Yes to Life at www.drugfreeworld.org .